Definition of "blowdown" [blowdown]

• The removal of liquid and solid hydrocarbons from a refinery vessel by the use of pressure (noun)
• Cooling fluid discharged from a plant at the end of its cycle. (noun)

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• "That afternoon, during the restart of a gasoline octane boosting sub-unit, highly explosive hydrocarbons shot like a geyser out of an environmental safety system called a blowdown stack."
• "The explosion occurred after a piece of equipment called a blowdown drum overfilled with highly flammable liquid hydrocarbons."
• "The explosion at the Texas City plant occurred after a piece of equipment called a blowdown drum overfilled with highly flammable liquid hydrocarbons."